Electric branding and dehorning iron



Jan. 29, 1957 A. E. HELBLING 2,779,354

ELECTRIC BRANDING AND DEHORNING IRON Filed Feb. 11, 1955 Fig.

Anion E. He/b/ing INVEN TOR.

United States Patent Ofiiice 2,779,854 Patented Jan. 29, 1957 This invention generally relates to a branding and dehorning device and more specifically provides a device having a heated electrode conformed in a particular manner for forming a branding and dehorning tool.

An object of this invention is to provide a tool for branding and dehorning which includes a heated electrode portion which may be easily maintained at the desired temperature so that the skin of the animal may be marked rapidly and without undue pain or injury to the animal and by applying the dehorner firmly and rotating the handle of the instrument slightly to make certain that the high temperature is applied evenly around the horn base, the heat will kill the horn cells and form a dry scab over the treated area, causing the scab and horn button to drop ofi in from four to six weeks time leaving a smooth well-healed area, free from infection. Also, the straight portion of the electrode is suitable for use to sear the exposed area where a saw, pincer or other means are employed to dehorn an animal. In such cases the use of the straight portion of the element will stop the flow of blood, sear the exposed area, prevent infection and insure complete healing of such injury.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide a brander and dehorner having a heated electrode with a laterally extending reversely bent loop together with a depending outwardly bowed portion all of which are interconnected by smooth curved portions whereby various indicia may be formed with the device.

Other important objects of the above invention will reside in its simple construction, lightness of weight, ease of manipulation, efficiency, utility, adaptation for its various purposes and its relatively inexpensive manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the brander and dehorner of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the construction of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the interchangeable electrode attached to the body member which forms the brander and dehorner.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, it will be seen that the numeral generally designates the brander and dehorner of the present invention including an elongated cylindrical body member 12 having a closure 14 at one end thereof and detachably secured thereto by a screw member 16. The closure member 14 is integrally formed with a generally U-shaped yoke 18 having a transverse handle 2d interconnecting the remote ends thereof thereby forming a handle for the cylindrical body member 12. The other end of the body member 12 is also provided with a closure 22 for detachably re ceiving a continuous electrode generally designated by the numeral 24.

The electrode 24 generally includes a first and second spaced parallel portion 26 and 28 which extend into the cap 22 and into the body member 12 and are detachably connected thereto for interchangeability. The portion 26 is longer than the portion 28 and terminates in a laterally ofiset reversely bent loop portion 30 with one end of the loop 3% being integrally formed with the outer end of the portion 26 and slightly curved upwardly as indicated by the numeral 32. The other end of the loop 3i) is connected to a generally semicylindrical curved portion 34 connected to the loop by a smooth curved portion 36. The curved portion 34 terminates in a downwardly and rearwardly inclined leg 38 which terminates in a curved portion 46 which is integrally formed with an inner leg 42 that is connected to the portion 23 by a smooth curve 44 thereby forming the continuous electrode 24. The inner or vertical leg 4-2 is substantially perpendicular to the portion 28 and the incline leg 38 is disposed in acute angular relation to the substantially vertical leg 42 as well as the horizontal. or inner leg 42 and the inclined or outer leg 38 are disposed in the same vertical plane as the parallel portions 26 and 28 and the loop portion 30 is disposed laterally in perpendicular relation to the parallel portions 26 and 28.

In operation, the tool 10 of the present invention is connected to a suitable electrical source by a conduit (not shown) for energizing a resistance type heating element in the continuous electrode 24. The electrode 24 is brought to the necessary temperature for branding the skin of the animal or for severing the horns of the animal by burning through the horn. This is accomplished by positioning the horn in the curved portion 40 between the legs 38 and 42 or within the loop depending upon the size and shape of the horns. The loops 3% together with the loops 34 and the inclined leg 33 as well as the vertical leg 42 and the curved portions 40 and 44 may be utilized for forming various parts of letters and other significant indicia when forming particular brands on the skin of various animals. Also, it will be seen that the tool ll? of the present invention is easily manipulated and easily controlled by the person during the branding or dehorning whereby the branding and dehorning operation may be conducted with very little unnecessary pain caused thereby so that the branding and dehorning operation may be expeditiously conducted.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A branding and dehorning device comprising an elongated body member, a handle on one end of said body member, a continuous electrode member attached to the other end of said body member, said electrode forming a brander and dehorner, said electrode including a pair of spaced parallel portions, one of said portions being longer than the other of said portions, said one portion terminating in a laterally extending reversely bent loop, said other portion including a generally outwardly bowed portion lying in a common plane with the spaced parallel portions and integrally formed therewith.

2. A branding and dehorning device comprising an elongated body member, a handle on one end of said body member, a continuous electrode member attached to the other end of said body member, said electrode forming a brander and dehorner, said electrode includ- The vertical ing a pair of spaced parallel portions, one of said porthe loop, said outer leg being vertically inclined and contions being longer than the other of said portions, said nested to--saidloopby-a smooth curved portion one portion terminating in a laterally extending reversely bent loop, said other portion including a generally out- References Clted 1n the l 0f fills patollt war-dly bo-wed portion-lying in a common-plane with 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS the spaced parallel portions and integrally formed there with, said bowed portion including an inner leg per- 32 ig? pendlcular to the other parallel 'p0rt1on and an outer 2,712,587 Story July 5, 1955 leg interconnecting the outer end of the innerleg and 

